Our popular weekly feature dedicated to the individuals and
organizations who deserve wither Cheers or Jeers
JEERS for the considerable uptick in scary sex-crime-related incidents in Gilroy. What used to be a very limited number of incidents is becoming almost commonplace – men driving around town soliciting children has been a twice weekly story in the newspaper for weeks. That’s a story we’d rather never print. Prior to that, there were a string of rapes in our city. What’s going on? Are an increased number of sex offenders being paroled here? Is the police department having difficulty showing enough presence on the street? If so, why? These are questions for our city leaders, and we intend to ask them. Meanwhile, please be extraordinarily careful with your children and keep close tabs on their whereabouts as well as reminding them about following basic safety rules.
CHEERS for the Gilroy Police Department’s arrest of one sexual predator suspect who allegedly tried to kidnap a 16-year-old teenage girl walking home from Gilroy High School. David Gonzalez-Raygoza is in custody and police are trying to determine if he’s involved in any of the other recent stalking incidents.
CHEERS for Gilroy High’s football team, waxing Hollister in the Prune Bowl and marching into the first round of the Central Coast Section playoffs. The Mustangs play Saturday night right here at home. Game time is 7 p.m. Let’s fill those stands and root on the ‘Stangs. If you’re searching for an antidote to Alex Smith and the anemic 49ers, junior record-setting GHS quarterback Jamie Jensen and his band of talented receivers are just the ticket. The game against Valley Christian should be a heckuva battle and a first-round win would be sweet indeed.
JEERS for the secretive way in which the search for a new police chief has started. All the city’s department heads were at the Hilton Garden Inn Tuesday all day interviewing candidates. City Administrator Jay Baksa refused to comment when asked about the process. It’s a stinging insult to this community to keep residents in the dark about this process and such an important choice – especially against the backddrop of serious sexual predator incidents in town. And, it unfortunately continues an predilection toward iron-fisted control that is not healthy for Gilroy. As the re-elected leader of our community, Mayor Al Pinheiro should step forward and insist that this process be open so that the public can understand it and scrutinize it.
CHEERS for the family of Norm Watenpaugh and for Stephen Lake, the man who accidentally struck and killed him a year ago. The family made an inspired plea for compassion to the judge in the case, a sentiment that we believe would have made the senior Watenpaugh proud. Likewise, Lake offered a heartfelt apology to the family. Besides filling with emotional tears, the courtroom brimmed with compassion causing Superior Court Judge Hector Ramon to say, “This is the only time I can remember of any case where the family advocated for public service rather than incarceration.” The judge complied. Our best wishes to both families for a restful and peaceful Thanksgiving.
